TORONTO, ONTARIO – Humber College has earned a STARS Gold rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.
In the report, Humber ranked first among all institutions in the Associate Colleges category for its sustainability efforts. It also tied for first in the Coordination and Planning category, came third in the Grounds and Waste categories, and was ranked eighth in the Water category.
"Sustainability is an integral part of Humber's identity and this STARS Gold rating is a testament to Humber's dedication to nurturing a culture of sustainability on campus,” says Ann Marie Vaughan, president and CEO, Humber College. “We are proud to teach students how sustainability fits into their learning and future careers, create sustainable buildings and integrate economic, social, and environmental sustainability throughout the college and beyond. This achievement reinforces our mission to empower students to become career-ready citizens who are well prepared to address the global challenge of climate change."
With more than 900 participants in 40 countries, AASHE’s STARS program is the most widely recognized framework in the world for publicly reporting comprehensive information related to a college or university’s sustainability performance. Participants report achievements in five overall areas: academics; engagement; operations; planning and administration; and innovation and leadership.
“Sustainability lives in every aspect of campus life and can be measured by how well we integrate it into our culture, learning, and operations,” said Lindsay Walker, director of sustainability, Humber College. “Humber’s STARS Gold rating, and its rank as the top performing institution in the Associate College’s category is a reassuring signal that our community members are embracing their roles as sustainability champions. While sustainability has no finish line, we are proud that our work will contribute to the health of current and future generations.”
The program is open to all institutions of higher education, and the criteria that determine a STARS rating are transparent and accessible to anyone. Because STARS is a program based on credits earned, it allows for both internal comparisons as well as comparisons with similar institutions.
“STARS was developed by the campus sustainability community to provide high standards for recognizing campus sustainability efforts,” said Meghan Fay Zahniser, AASHE Executive Director. “Humber College has demonstrated a substantial commitment to sustainability by achieving a STARS Gold Rating and is to be congratulated for their efforts.”
Humber’s STARS report is publicly available on the STARS website.
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About AASHE
AASHE is an association of colleges and universities that are working to create a sustainable future. AASHE’s mission is to empower higher education to lead the sustainability transformation. It provides resources, professional development and a network of support to enable institutions of higher education to model and advance sustainability in everything they do, from governance and operations to education and research. For more information about AASHE, visit www.aashe.org.
For more information about the STARS program, visit stars.aashe.org.
About Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning
Innovation. Opportunity. Partnership. Support. At Humber College, we bring it all to more than 86,000 learners, in-person and online. As a global leader in polytechnic education, Humber provides in-depth theoretical learning, hands-on, work-integrated experiences and applied research opportunities to students at three main Toronto locations and beyond. Extensive industry connections, experienced faculty and a comprehensive range of credentials, including honours undergraduate degrees, Ontario graduate certificates, diplomas, apprenticeships, and certificates prepare career-ready global citizens for success in the future world of work. Visit humber.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Meghan Fay Zahniser
Executive Director, AASHE
meghan@aashe.org | 1.888.347.9997
Sylvie Lendvay
Media Relations and External Communications Specialist
Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
sylvie.lendvay@humber.ca | 416.729.8940